On Jan. 3, 2008, the entire world looked on as Iowans cast their votes for presidential candidates in the Iowa caucuses. For many months prior to the electoral event, politicians courted the state’s voters. From small gatherings in the homes of locals to massive, televised rallies, the candidates struggled to leave an impression on the voting populace of this Midwestern state.

As a New Yorker, I arrived in Iowa ignorant of the importance of the caucus. I was encouraged to witness the caucuses firsthand by Wesleyan student and Iowa native Georgia Flaum ’11.

My political education began at a rally for then-Democratic hopeful

Governor Bill Richardson in the home of a local doctor. Richardson entered the living room and quickly sought out every young caucus-goer. He addressed the crowd of 50 with standard lines from his stump speech, but also diligently answered questions from guests, cracking jokes in between responses. With bodyguards nowhere in sight, Richardson went around the room, shaking guests’ hands and even sharing a Heineken with the host.

As a nation, we have grown accustomed to seeing celebrities champion their political pick; however, I had never witnessed such an outpouring of support by young actors before this year’s campaign. Many candidates utilized celebrity backing to boost their appeal among young voters. Scarlett Johansson devoted time to support Senator Barack Obama, speaking to the group Students for Barack Obama at the Coralville Marriott the day before the caucus. She conveyed her reasons for supporting the candidate and encouraged every young voter to attend the caucus. She took the time to chat and take photos with her eager young fans, further encouraging them to caucus.

Kal Penn, the star of “The Namesake” and “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle,” made three separate trips to the state to rally for Obama. The day before the caucus, Penn visited Obama headquarters in Iowa City, making phone calls to young, undecided Indian-American voters.

In a one-on-one 10-minute phone call, Penn attempted to convince a University of North Carolina freshman to support Obama. He then sent her a personal e-mail about Obama’s position on healthcare. Penn visited a handful of local high schools to further promote Obama. He also spoke in the home of a high school senior to a crowd of 30 high school and college students.

I had the opportunity to attend Senator Hillary Clinton’s final appearance in Iowa City before the caucus. She spoke to an enthusiastic crowd two evenings before caucus day in the Iowa City Sheraton Hotel. Although former President Bill Clinton had toured with the senator on her Iowa campaign trail, their daughter Chelsea stood by her mother’s side as she addressed her supporters.

After her speech, Clinton interacted with the crowd. Georgia and I were eager to meet the senator. After walking right past us initially, I screamed, “We’re college students!” She promptly stopped autographing her autobiography to pose for a photo with us.

During my time in Iowa, I volunteered in the Iowa City Obama headquarters. In one day, I called 300 homes in an effort to encourage them to attend their caucus. I would end each conversation with the signature phrase: “I hope to see you in Barack’s corner!” However, it was not until the night of the caucus that I truly understood the reference.

Since 1972, the Iowa caucuses have served as the first in a series of state primaries and caucuses to nominate United States presidential candidates. The state boasts an impressive track record of picking the presidential nominee for both parties.

On the evening of Jan. 3, I entered the Iowa City West High School’s cafeteria with Georgia and her family to watch this historic event. The caucus began as 257 people from the University Heights precinct gathered in the cafeteria. Candidate buttons, stickers, cupcakes, posters and banners adorned the room. Even water bottles with campaign slogans were distributed in the hopes of gaining more support.

Obama’s signature banners reading “Hope” and “Change” were plastered on the school’s vending machines. Clinton’s camp decorated their corner of the room with eye-catching images of the senator shaking the hands of construction workers and hugging aged veterans. Former senator John Edwards’ section stood in front of a mirror, evoking the memory of his $400 haircut. Richardson, Senators Chris Dodd, Joseph Biden, and Mike Gravel and Representative Dennis Kucinich’s tables each portrayed a medley of succinct slogans but were crammed together in the fourth corner of the room.

Each candidate’s precinct captain stood before the voters and spoke about the strengths of their contender. Afterwards, the preliminary vote was taken. The group of residents from University Heights, a neighborhood in Iowa City, scrambled into their respective corners and began to count off.

The first tally was reported. Richardson, Biden, Dodd, Gravel and Kucinich lacked the 15 percent of the participants necessary to become viable candidates, so their voters distributed themselves among the remaining three viable candidates. Each delegate then represents their candidate in an upcoming series of Democratic conventions. In the end, Obama received two delegates, and both Clinton and Edwards received one each.

I glimpsed into a Republican voting room, which occupied the school’s orchestra rehearsal space. The room was one third of the size of the cafeteria. Although this precinct’s Republican caucus room was smallerthan the Democratic one, this does not hold true throughout the remainder of the state.

After the caucuses were over, news of Obama and former Governor Mike Huckabee’s victories radiated throughout the country. In just 11 months, we will see if Iowa’s choice will once again be accurate.